Kevin of Glendalough

Kevin of Glendalough Wicklow or Kevin or Kevin of the Angels, Old Irish Coemgen, Irish Caoimhín, (* supposedly 498 near Dublin, † June 3 618 in Glendalough ) is an Irish saint of the 6th and 7th century. He is the patron of the Irish capital Dublin and the Archdiocese of the same name. His feast day is June 3; partially but he is also celebrated on June 6. About Kevin's life is not very accurate known as the oldest written traditions arose about him only 500 to 600 years after his death.

Kevin came from the royal family. Allegedly, he was early miracles and even before his birth his parents was announced by an angel, that her son would be " the father of many monks ", which is why they sent him to the religious training in the monastery at Kilnamanagh Dublin. After a pilgrimage to Rome, he retired to Glendalough in County Wicklow. There he quickly found followers and founded around 549 at the top of the two lakes of Glendalough Abbey, which he headed until his death as abbot. There he taught many people in the ascetic life. He himself lived mostly withdrawn in the woods and on the lake shore; the foundations of his " cell" in the forest ( Saint Kevin's Cell ) and the cave in which he allegedly slept ( Saint Kevin 's Bed ) are preserved until today. It is unclear whether he was bishop. In any case, the following abbots its abbey were always at the same time bishop of the Diocese of Glendalough, which covered the present diocese of Dublin, which at that time was limited only to the city of Dublin. The Diocese of Glendalough existed until the early 13th century.

The Abbey developed after Kevin's death quickly became a center of Christian life and near the lower lake, the great monastery town developed with a typical Irish round tower, the Cathedral and the St. Kevin's Church. Most of today can still be visited ruins in Glendalough probably date from the 10th to the 12th century and were built at the sites where simpler buildings were already in Kevin's time and in the years after his death from wood and other materials. They were reconstructed during the 19th century with residual original building material.

Kevin is also the patron of blackbirds, with whom he is often depicted, as he wanted a life in harmony with nature and was therefore allegedly often accompanied by birds. The patronage of the blackbirds based on the story that a blackbird in Lent, when Kevin was praying with outstretched arms, an egg is said to have placed in his hand. Kevin was then left in the attitude of prayer, until the egg was hatched and the boy could fly away. He is said to have felt more comfortable with animals than with people, and there are numerous stories about his dealings with animals.

Kevin died around 618 alleged in the biblical age of 120 years. His grave has been the target of numerous pilgrimages quickly. Although it was attacked and destroyed in 1368 by English troops, the monastery remained still exist until 1539, when it by the English king Henry VIII - was dissolved - like all Catholic monasteries in the kingdom. In 1903, Kevin canonized (cult confirmation).